#the heron&039;s nest

[juliemellorpoet]

night bird

The week before last saw me rereading the 2023 issues of The Heron’s Nest, trying to finalise my top ten for the Reader’s Award. There’s an overwhelming amount of good contemporary haiku in this journal and I’m never disappointed when I read it, plus it’s free online, and I’m grateful for that. I can’t influence anyone else’s vote now, because the deadline has passed, and I suppose there should…

[jennysteele]

Heart

Be gentle with a heart, it is fragile and easily broken, but it can also love unconditionally without words. It is up to us to show love in our actions and words. My heart is breaking, I am seeing someone I love go through such a difficult time. It has affected me in ways I never thought it could. So much so I have needed to take some time away. I am usually a strong person, I want the best for…

[juliemellorpoet]

On barns ...

I love the poem by Peter Newton, above. It’s the editor’s choice in the current issue of The Heron’s Nest. You can read the editor’s comments here. For me, the poem echoes the haiku by Masahide, below (on the Poetry Chaikhana blog): That careful dismantling of the barn, beam by beam, in Newton’s poem, somehow slows the reader down. You have to take your time with it, just as it would take time…

[juliemellorpoet]

The Heron's Nest reader' choice awards

The Heron’s Nest reader’ choice awards

Finalising my choices, wishing I’d not left it quite so late (deadline tomorrow) and bowled over by how many truly excellent and varied haiku this journal contains. Not quite sure of the order of my top 10 yet, but the above poem will definitely be in there!

[juliemellorpoet]

The Heron's Nest

The Heron’s Nest

Needless to say, I’m over the moon to have a haiku in the current issue of The Heron’s Nest, but more than that, I’m in awe of this beautifully quiet yet expansive haiku by Frank Hooven:dinnertimeone sandal under the swingI love the simplicity and tenderness of the scene, the way what’s left behind is enough for us to construct a whole backstory. No wonder it’s the editor’s choice – if you follow…